I pulled her in for a side hug, grateful that she was a solid judge of character like that despite only now meeting Sadie.
“Besides, he was witness to how miserable and furious this guy was the entire time you were missing.” Gabby elbowed me gently. “I think he’s made it clear that he’ll destroy the world toreach you. Luka wouldn’t try to dismiss you for the sake of not wanting to upset him.”
She had that right. I would stand up for Sadie to even my father.
“But I’m not changing my mind. He can wait. You need to rest?—”
“For what?” Sadie asked. “You heard the doctors. I’m okay. I’ll take it easy, but it’s not like I should stay in bed. I’ll drink water and eat. If anything I researched online is true, being mobile and on my feet is better than sitting too much.”
Gabby nodded. “That’s definitely true.”
“I can meet with him now,” Sadie told me. “And with the reason I suspect I was taken, Iwantto meet him and talk with him to better have a plan of attack against those who likely arranged my kidnapping.”
“Are you sure you’re not too tired or?—”
“I’m sure,” she said quickly, smiling.
I sighed, hating the idea of her rushing anything. When she took my hand and squeezed it, though, I softened. She wasn’t a weakling and it would be stupid of me to assume she was.
“I’ll take you to him now,” Gabby offered, leading the way out of my room.
Even though Sadie held my hand as we walked, Gabriella chattered away as we went. Out of the privacy of my room, I struggled with having to share her at all. I could tell she and Gabby were on a fast track to friendship, no doubt bonding already as they talked about being so far in their pregnancies. I was glad to see them get along. It mattered. But knowing myfather would be thorough in questioning her, I had to brace myself for sharing her with him like that, too.
I sighed, wondering when I’d be able to celebrate Sadie’s return the way I wanted to—just the two of us, in this new phase of love and companionship that not even enemy lines could break.
I would follow her lead and make sure she had what she wanted to feel safe again, but as she told me in my room, she wanted to meet my father. She didn’t want to put off this conversation.
We entered the study as he waited to end a call. Lifting a finger at Gabriella walking in with me and Sadie behind her, he smiled slightly.
Gabby went over to kiss his cheek and then left.
I guided Sadie to the chair and then took another one for myself.
He hung up and eyed us both carefully. “Ms. Langer. I trust you are recovering well?”
She nodded. “I am. Thanks for the hospitality. Especially since someone with my background should expect the opposite of your generosity.”
He folded his hands on the desk. “Is that so?”
“Of course,” Sadie replied. “As far as I can recall, noPakhanhas ever been chummy with the FBI for the hell of it.”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to consider a friendship starting here,” he warned. “I’m only humoring his need to have you close.” He gestured at me.
She shrugged. “I’m slow to make friends as well.”
“Oh, really?” I laughed wryly after how she and Gabby seemed to be on the fast track to being besties after knowing each other for several minutes. “You and Gabby forgot I was even there.”
“For the last time,” my father growled. “Her name is Gabriella.”
I grinned and shrugged.
“I’m slow to make friends,” Sadie repeated, “but I’m strategic in forming alliances when they make sense.”
“You think I want you to be my ally?” my father asked. “Just because you allegedly were fired and seduced my son to knock you up, it’s imperative that I welcome you to my world, my home, and my family?”
I tensed, ignoring the tautness of my abs clenching. It was like bracing for a hit. Hearing my father flat-out remind us both that nothing was certain in terms of his approval, I tempered my anger to lash out and demand that he be more accepting.
“No.” Sadie didn’t flinch, unruffled. “If everything I’ve heard about you is true, you are far too cautious to see me as anything but the enemy. But I do think you want to hear what I know. And I am certain that no matter what you decide or think, you will never make me forsake this man or leave the future we are building together.” She turned to gaze at me. “The one who kidnapped me when it was my assignment to capture him. The one who saved me when I was set up to fail.”
